*rant*
I hope they clean up that description on Steam somewhat.
Optional Adventurer Mode!
Optional Legends Mode!
What about Adventurer mode as opposed to, say, Fortress mode makes it "Optional"? Like some add in unrelated DLC. It's a key feature of the game. There are at least a few in here who'd like to throw in "Optional Fortress Mode!" following the same logic
This whole, "Dwarf Fortress is a fortress simulator with some other unrelated things that no-one uses (like a simulated world with hundreds of years of history, and a roguelike which allows you to explore and take part in that world)" thing is really detrimental to trying to explain what the game is about and understanding why development is happening like it is (and answering, "where are the goblins!" questions).
Plenty of games simulate fortress management (with better graphics and modern UI). Plenty of games are roguelike adventures. Very few give you both and a unique world to play them in.
Yeah, Adventurer's not as developed right now. But by the time Steam is released it'll have parties, pets and everything Villains to play with. By the time of the Big Wait there'll be even more.
It's only as "Optional" as any other feature in the game. "Optional Cheesemaking!"...
*End rant*